Rogers Wireless Inc., the only wireless service provider in Canada with a network suited to meld with Apple Inc.'s upcoming iPhone handset, is now dismissing the notion that it would sell the hotly anticipated device as "speculation."

"We haven't announced whether we will carry the iPhone," Odette Coleman,Â*manager of corporate communications for Rogers Wireless, said in an e-mail to CBC News Online. "Everything in the media has been speculations to this point."

The statement strongly contradicts an e-mail sent out by Rogers to subscribers following the unveiling of iPhone back in January. In that communication, the carrier reportedly said that it was working with Apple to launch the device in Canada "as soon as possible."

Since iPhone operates on the GSM wireless technology standard, Rogers would be the only carrier in Canada suited to offer the device to its customers, as all other providers in the country use the CDMA standard.

"The only fact is that we are the only GSM carrier in Canada," added Coleman. "That's the only fact."

Ronald Gruia, an analyst with market research firm Frost & Sullivan in Toronto, said Rogers' apparent about-face may not just represent an attempt by the carrier to protect its roll-out plans. He said costs and considerations for adding a new phone to its lineup, including business and technical factors,Â*may have offered compelling reasons for it not to carry the device.

For Rogers, major considerations likely includeÂ*the fact that it's upgrading to a next-generation or 3G networkÂ*and the possibility that itsÂ*current contractsÂ*with cellphone manufacturers still have not yet run their course, Gruia speculated.

"Rogers may waitÂ*to see how well it does in the U.S.," he said. "If this thing really takes off and has tremendous uptake in the U.S., maybe we'll see it here in time for Christmas."

At the same time, however, the analyst noted that the latter is an unlikely situation given the device's high retail pricing of $499 and $599. Most sales forecasts have Apple selling only about 10 million units through 2008, which would represent about one per cent of the projected global market.

Those kinds of figures don't tell a wireless carrier that they must offer any device, Gruia told CBC, adding that doesn't even factor in the costs associated with training a sales force, marketing and servicing the handsets.

There's also the possibility, the analyst added, that Rogers may have a ways to go before existing contracts for large-volume sales ofÂ*popular phones such as Motorola's RAZR and Sony-Ericsson's W810 are up, in which case it may note be inclined to offer the competing iPhone device.

In the meantime, some loyal Apple enthusiast have reportedly signed on with U.S. carriers so that come June, they can still get an iPhone without worrying about a specific Canadian provider.

I'm amazed at the whackjob stories they'll construct around two simple statements. The simple and historical explanation is that Rogers got excited, said something they shouldn't have, and are now being non-commital. The corporate drama behind the scenes is anyone's guess and likely largely irrelevant.

Speculation my ass. You knew you were gonna get it, then you probably f-ed it up.

The only reason this is happening is probably because rogers doesn't want to amend their insane rules and data plans to offer users a fair experience, which would be necessary to do given the cost of the iphone.
If the iphone where released in canada at it's current price with rogers current pricing structure only the extreme diehards would get it and it wouldn't be profitable. I consider myself a diehard and I still wouldn't get it.
So rogers probably got all pissy, which in turn made apple mad. The only reason its going so smooth in the US is because AT&T actually wants to work with apple to create a customer experience, whereas rogers just want to charge up the ass and then make a billion more stipulations to bleed people dry.

Current state of Rogers + current price of iPhone = an extremely violent raping.
It's like watching a snuff film and knowing it's real, you just wanna throw up.

Go ***k yourself rogers.

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Actually, when the iPhone was first announced I was sure that Rogers would not offer it as the iPhone has WiFi and Rogers refuses to offer phones like this so they can continue to gouge us with exorbitant data rates. I have a feeling that they tried to push Apple to cripple this function, and Apple refused. Hence the about-face.

Rogers was obviously weaseling its way out of a definite answer here. They didn't say they wouldn't have the iPhone (not even hinting at a delay), but they didn't commit to it either.

In short: they don't want to get people's hopes up too far in advance.

But yes, Rogers desperately needs to rethink its data plans. They want to offer HSDPA but their phone plans are completely backwards: it only costs you $5-10 more to chew up massive bandwidth on video calls, but yet you can pay upwards of $100 a month for 250MB of general data.

Speculation my ass. You knew you were gonna get it, then you probably f-ed it up.

The only reason this is happening is probably because rogers doesn't want to amend their insane rules and data plans to offer users a fair experience, which would be necessary to do given the cost of the iphone.
If the iphone where released in canada at it's current price with rogers current pricing structure only the extreme diehards would get it and it wouldn't be profitable. I consider myself a diehard and I still wouldn't get it.
So rogers probably got all pissy, which in turn made apple mad. The only reason its going so smooth in the US is because AT&T actually wants to work with apple to create a customer experience, whereas rogers just want to charge up the ass and then make a billion more stipulations to bleed people dry.

Current state of Rogers + current price of iPhone = an extremely violent raping.
It's like watching a snuff film and knowing it's real, you just wanna throw up.

What the hell? Canadians are registering at AppleInsider expressly to defend the homeland?

This could get ugly. AI was practically founded on random Canada bashing.

Why bash Canada? Canada, just like America, was founded after years of fighting other Europeans and destroying native inhabitance by the British. As was New Zealand and Australia. We are all basically the same culture and people with a wonderful mix of immigrants. Just get along OK

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

Why bash Canada? Canada, just like America, was founded after years of fighting other Europeans and destroying native inhabitance by the British. As was New Zealand and Australia. We are all basically the same culture and people with a wonderful mix of immigrants. Just get along OK

Not around these parts. The crimes of the our implacably evil neighbors to the north are well know. Don't think we're fooled by the "friendly" routine. We will be watching you closely.

They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.

The simple and historical explanation is that Rogers got excited, said something they shouldn't have, and are now being non-commital.

While that's likely the case, the fact that Microsoft Corp. invested $600 Million in shares of Rogers Communications in July 1999, representing 9% of Rogers' equity shouldn't be ignored. At the time Rogers said it would use Microsoft software for interactive TV services, beginning in 2000 (which, as we know, never went anywhere). Ever since that time, Rogers has been a staunch supporter of all things M$, and has had little interest in Mac users.

Those of us who see the dark side of this announcement might think M$ was exerting undue influence on Rogers, leading to the waning of Rogers' initial enthusiasm for the iPhone.

Isn't the planned European iPhone supposed to work on CDMA?
Maybe a Canadian CDMA provider can get the gig and Canadians
can buy a phone like the Euros. (i might be hallucinating, don't
hold it against me)

Remember we're Canadian. We never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. And Rogers are the lesser of two evils right now. Bell (pronounced Doucebags in Proper Canadian, are are only alternative, The rest being front companies.) And about Rogers just waiting to financially "screw" That point is so on the money you won't believe it.

Isn't the planned European iPhone supposed to work on CDMA?
Maybe a Canadian CDMA provider can get the gig and Canadians
can buy a phone like the Euros. (i might be hallucinating, don't
hold it against me)

that's a thing of the past; don't think that CDMA was ever sold in Europe.
europe is 100% GSM